Not available in 11g I think, but you can install a client - I think you need to go back to 9i to get a gui sqlplus - that should work with 11g database, except for some newer SQL syntax would not work.

yes,i installed oracle client 11.2.0.1 and how can i get sqlplus in gui mode same like 10g.In 10g,after installation of 10g oracle client or database on iwndows platform,we go to start>programs>oracle_home> development tools>sqlplus , create shortcut of sqlplus to desktop and when we click on this shortcut command prompt opens and also a small window opens and asking username,password.how can i get this same in 11.2.0.1 oracle client on windows 7.

They'll have to pry my old sqlplusw.exe GUI version from my fingers after I'm dead. ;-)

I really like the ability to change the working directory by using the File, Open pull-down menu, open a dummy file. Then every script I run is run from that directory. I can't do that with sqlplus.exe -- I have to open a windows Explorer window, find the directory (I can never remember the exact path and spelling), then issue a sqlplus Host CD... command.

And I like the ability to use the mouse to highlight (select) text using the left-click (and hold), drag across the text, and then paste that text on the command line with a right-click. In sqlplus.exe, using the up/down arrow keys allow me to only copy a single line of a multi-line select. That makes copying a big query or pl/sql block a royal PITA -- I would never use the arrow keys.

In sqlplus.exe, copying a block of code can be done by: right-click, select Mark, click and drag over the text, press Enter, right-click, select Paste. Yeah, I could get used to that, but the GUI method is easier.

Steve Cosner wrote:
They'll have to pry my old sqlplusw.exe GUI version from my fingers after I'm dead. ;-)

I really like the ability to change the working directory by using the File, Open pull-down menu, open a dummy file. Then every script I run is run from that directory. I can't do that with sqlplus.exe -- I have to open a windows Explorer window, find the directory (I can never remember the exact path and spelling), then issue a sqlplus Host CD... command.

And I like the ability to use the mouse to highlight (select) text using the left-click (and hold), drag across the text, and then paste that text on the command line with a right-click. In sqlplus.exe, using the up/down arrow keys allow me to only copy a single line of a multi-line select. That makes copying a big query or pl/sql block a royal PITA -- I would never use the arrow keys.

In sqlplus.exe, copying a block of code can be done by: right-click, select Mark, click and drag over the text, press Enter, right-click, select Paste. Yeah, I could get used to that, but the GUI method is easier.

FWIW, if you set your command prompt box properties to 'quick edit', you can eliminate the 'right-click, select Mark, ' and go straight to 'click and drag over the text ...'

I can't say I've ever felt the need to change directory from within SQL*Plus - although I can imagine if that had become part of my way of working it would be frustrating to lose it. If I need to run a script from a Subversion/Perforce folder for example, I just drag it from Windows Explorer. I don't usually need to run multiple scripts like this though. And as Ed mentioned, you can copy and paste text using the mouse.

you can set the working directory on every shortcut (right-click -> properties -> Start in). for example I have a different shortcut for each environment that I regularly use and each has its own working directory. this way you can also set up different login.sql scripts.

I also mourned the death of the sqlplusw.exe but now I don't look back.

I really like the ability to change the working directory by using the File, Open pull-down menu, open a dummy file. Then every script I run is run from that directory. I can't do that with sqlplus.exe -- I have to open a windows Explorer window, find the directory (I can never remember the exact path and spelling), then issue a sqlplus Host CD... command.

That is because you are using sqlplus as if it is a GUI. I don't blame using that approach on Windows - with its oh-so-crappy console window interface and dorky DOS command set.

And I like the ability to use the mouse to highlight (select) text using the left-click (and hold), drag across the text, and then paste that text on the command line with a right-click.

Works fine in console windows on Linux. Even better. You highlight text and paste that highlighted text with the middle mouse button (clipboard 1). Or do it the conventional way using the properties menu (or ctrl keystrokes) for copying and pasting (clipboard 2).

So I typically run sqlplus in one or two tabbed windows, vim editing source code files (checked out from subversion) in other tabbed windows (with syntax highlighting), and a single keystroke to switch (shift plus left/right arrow) between tabs and go from sqlplus to the editor and back.

I have watched colleagues using TOAD and SQL-Developer... and they write and test software a lot slower as they need to use a lot physical interaction. I seldom have to lift my hands from the keyboard to touch and use the mouse - which means less delay between different actions as it is not a stop-and-start affair between using the keyboard interface one moment, and the mouse interface the next.

Then there is the cube desktop that enables me to use ctrl-shift plus right/left arrow to rotate the desktop and display the desktop face running Firefox (for Oracle manuals) or Chrome (for developing and testing Apex apps).

I honestly don't get it - using Windows. It is fine as a gaming platform. But for the type of development one does in Oracle? It lacks. In each and every respect. Despite bloated crutchware such as TOAD. Or command line tools compiled with a GDI canvas interface like sqlplusw (which I last did using Turbo Pascal for Windows on WFW3.11 when porting my DOS console apps to 16bit Windows).